Deep-diving whale found dead on New England beach with suspected bird flu
A juvenile female Sowerby's beaked whale, one of the deepest diving animals in the ocean, was found stranded on a beach in Massachusetts and died a few hours later. The whale's carcass was sent for a necropsy, which revealed that the animal had a viral infection that caused its brain to become inflamed and swollen. Scientists are still testing the animal's cerebral tissue to determine which virus caused the infection, but "avian influenza is a top consideration," according to a lead pathologist. The Sowerby's beaked whale is a rare species, and the recent beaching has given scientists a rare chance to study the enigmatic species.